Apparatus in a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine



APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE Filed March 22, 1951 AUTOMATIC QUILTING MACHNE-NEEDLE 4 Sheets-Sheet l BY 562@ g Aug. 31, 1954 N, SH01-SKY 2.687,703

APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE-NEEDLE AUTOMATIC QUILTING MACHINE Filed March22, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 V JNVENTOR. AMT/4N Sword/(V Aug. 31, 1954 N.sHoTsKY 2,687,703 APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE-NEEDLE AUTOMATIC QUILTINGFiled March 22, 1951 MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 N. sHo'TsKY 2,687,7031

NEEDLE AUTOMATIC QUILTING MACHINE Aug. 3l, 1954 APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE-4 Sheets-sheet 4 Filed 'March 22, 1951 INVENTOR.

f W .o ,4 MAA w Patented Aug. 31, 1954 APPARATUS IN A MULTIPLE-NEEDLEAUTO- MATIC QUILTING MACHINE Nathan Shotsky,

fourth to Hersch jamin Zauderer,

Brooklyn, N. Zauderer, and one-fourth to David H.

Y., assignor of one:- one-fourth to Ben- Turkel, all of Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 22, 1951,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ap` paratus in amultiple-needle automatic quiltingr machine.

One object of the present invention is the proautomatic mechanism forsecuring superposed threads to the surface of traveling fabric which isininite number to produce anI the use of a variety of threads.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel automaticmechanism for securing a superposed thread to the surface of travelingfabric by lock-stitching with the stitching embracing and frictionallyengaging the superposed threads.

Otherobjects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the` description thereof proceeds when considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: l

Fig. 1 is a front perspective View of a. multipleneedle automaticquilting machine embodying Serial No. 216,990

method of lock stitching the superposed thread to the fabric;

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross sectional View through the pressure plateshowing the method of threading the superposed thread in thereciprocable bars;

Fig. 9l is an elevational View needle xcd to a handle;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a fabric segment havf ing superposed thereonthreads in a pre-selected quilted pattern;

Fig. 11 is a plan View ofA a fabric segment having superposed thereonelastic threads to form shirred and quilted fabric;

Fig. l2 is a plan view of a fabric segment hav-Y ing superposed thereonshirred fabric; y

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view showing a pair of reciprocableneedles and their driving means in both eXtreme positions Fig. 14 is aschematic illustration of the path of travel of the fabric from thesupply roll to the processed fabric roll;

Fig. 15 is a partial plan View showing the path of fabric travelrelative to the reciprocable needles;

Fig. 16 is a partial plan View showing the motor drive and transmissionto the cam drive for the carriage;

Fig. 17 is a detail partial plan View showing the cam drive for thecarriage;

Fig. 18 is a detailed view in side eleva-tion of the reciprocable needledriving means; and

of the threading ing fabric guiding apron.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 1A the multiple# ing the presentinvention, ing base IZ; a rest plate |16,

comprises a support-V4 reciprocating carriage hl, a fabric elasticthreads to form.4

are fed to the surface of the traveling fabric II in a manner to bedescribed in detail hereinafter.

With reference to Fig. 14 there is shown a schematic illustration of thepath of travel of the fabric II from the supply roll 22 to the processedfabric roll 24. The traveling fabric II passes onto the guiding apron 36from which it is fed between the fabric rest plate I6 and the pressureplate I8 by means of the feeding rollers 26. The feeding rollers 26 aredriven intermittently at a constant speed from the main drive shaft 46(Fig. 16). From the feeding rollers 26 the fabric is fed to theprocessed fabric roll 24.

, With reference to Fig. 1, the fabric rest plate I6 is xed to, andreciprocates with, the reciprocating carriage I4, whereas the pressureplate I8 is mounted on the automatic quilting machine If) independentlyof said carriage I4. The fabric rest plate I is fixed to the carriage I4in any conventional manner and it is to be understood that said restplate and carriage combination is conventional in all respects..

In a conventional multiple-needle automatic quilting machine the banksof needles 20 are adapted to bond or sew together a plurality of layersof cloth or other textile material by stitching them automatically invarious decorative patterns. The present invention provides for anattachment for such a conventional multipleneedle automatic quiltingmachine for securing a superposed thread to the surface of the travelingfabric iI in any pre-selected decorative pattern.

With reference to Figs. 2 to 4 applicants attachment mechanism forsecuring the superposed thread 48 to the surface of the traveling fabric-II comprises a longitudinally slotted pressure plate I8 and a pluralityof bars 52. The pressure plate i8 is longitudinally slotted at 54 andthe bars 52 are adapted to mate with the slots 54. The pressure plate I8has a plurality of spaced cut-out portions 5t which are used for apurpose to be described in detail hereinafter. Bridging the bars 52 is atransverse connector member 56 which is fixed to the bars 52 and whichis adapted to synchronously reciprocate said bars relative to thepressure plate I8. In order to effect the reciprocation of the connectormember 56 and thereby effect the reciprocation of bars 52, there isprovided a rotating cam 58 which is driven from the main drive shaft 46by means of the chain drive 6i) and gear 62. Rigidly secured to theconnector member 5B is a cam follower 64 which is adapted to ride in theslot 66 of the rotating cam 5S to impart to the bars 52 an intermittentreciprocating motion, as will be evident from Figs. 2 and 3. There isprovided in the plate it a plurality of spaced slots 68 which areadapted to cooperate with the posts 'I0 xed to the bars 52 for guidingthe bars 52 during their reciprocation. In Fig. 2 the bars 52 are shownin their left extreme position Whereas in Fig. 3 the bars 52 are shownin their right extreme position, the reciprocating and positioning ofsaid bars being effected by the previously described rotating cam 53 andfollower 64. Bars 52 have a plurality of spaced integral protuberancesi2 which are adapted to guide the superposed threads 43 relative tothesurface of the traveling fabric II. There are provided aligned,transverse apertures 14 passing through the bars 52 and protuberancesl2, said apertures 14 being adapted to receive a superposed thread 43from the feed source or supply roll 42. It will be readily apparent thatthe protuberances l2, being integral with the bars 52, millintermittently reciprocate with said bars 52 between the extremepositions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The exact shape and design of theprotuberances 'I2 is not of controlling significance and anyprotuberances i?. may be utilised in the system to effect the properpositioning and guiding of the superposed thread 48 relative to thesurface of the traveling fabric II. Spaced cut-out portions 50, of thepressure plate I6, are located complementary to the protuberances 'i2and to the area adjacent to the transverse apertures 14, to provideclearance for said protuberances and the area adjacent to the transverseapertures 'I4 on the reciprocation of the bars 52. The cut-out portions5c are also provided to effect clearance for threading the protuberances12 and the transverse apertures 'i4 with a superposed thread 48 as willbe more fully described hereinafter.

The banks of needles 2li comprise a plurality of spaced needles I5mounted in two rows with a predetermined number of needles in each row(Figs. 5 and 6). It will be readily understood that any number of rowsof needles, and any number of needles in each row, may be used dependingon the decorative pattern selected.

"With reference to Figs. 13 and 18, the needles I6 are adapted toreciprocate vertically in a xed path to lock-stitch the superposedthreads 48 to the surface of the fabric II. All the needles 16reciprocate in unison and both rows of needles are secured to the needlebracket 18 in any conventional manner as by screws S0. The needles 'I6are reciprocated between the extreme positions shown in lig. 13 by meansof eccentric 82, connecting link member 84, and arm 86 connected totheshaft 88. It will be understood that on the rotation of the maindrive shaft 46, needles 'I6 are reciprocated intermittently in apredetermined sequence as more fully described below. The protuberances'I2 of the reciprocable bars 52 are adapted to reciprocate across thefixed needle path sequentially whereby on one down stroke of the needlesi6 the latter enters the travelling fabric II to stitch the superposedthread 4B, with the protuberances I2 positioned adjacent to and at oneside of said needles, and on the next down stroke of said needles thelatter again enters the' fabric II to stitch the superposed 'thread 48,with the protuberances 'I2 positioned adjacent to and at the other sideof said needles, to complete a cycle. Thus it will be seen that theprotuberances l2 are adapted to reciprocate across the paths of theneedles in timed sequential relationship with respect to the needles 'lewhereby on the down stroke of said needles the latter penetrates thetraveling fabric II to stitch the superposed threads 48 to said fabricwith the thread-bearing protuberances 'I2 positioned adjacent to and onalternate sides of said needles I6. The protuberances 12 thereby guidethe superposed threads 48 relative to the surface of the travelingfabric ii and the path of the needles l5. The superposed threads 48 arelock-stitched to the fabric II by the needles 'i6 and it will be seenthat each stitch will be in substantial alignment and on alternate sidesof the superposed threads 43. It will be understood that theintermittent axial reciprocation of the bars .52 may be sequentiallytimed with the reciprocable needles i6 as described above in anyconventional manner.

In operation, threads adapted to lock-stitch the superposed threads-4iito the surface of the fabric il are fed from the spools 35 to theapertures 90 of the needles `16, whereas the superposed threads :I8 arefed from the supply roll superposed threads are, restralned straight bymeans of the lock-stitches |92 as shown in the fabric segment 94,illustrated in Fig. 10.

In order to allow the traveling fabric II to intermittently pass betweenthe rest plate I6 and the pressure plate I 8, the pressure plate I8 isadapted to reciprocate intermittently, relative to the plate I6 of themachine I9, in a vertical path.

Si; to which is secured the pressure plate It.

The carriage I d reciprocates intermittently in a horizontal plane bymeans of cam plate |96 (Fig. 17) The carriage I4 is provided with framestructure H38 to which is attached horizontal members IIt outboard ofsaid frame |68. A pair of spaced cam followers I I2 is secured to plateI I d which is in turn xed tothe members I It, the followers H2 beingadapted to cooperate with the rotating cam plate IiII whereby on therotation of said cam plate |06 the frame |08 and thel carn riage I4 willbe intermittently reciprocated. With reference to Fig, 16, the cam plateIt is driven from the main shaft 46 through the intermediary `of thegear case IIS and transmission `gears IIE and |29, the gear I2@ drivingthe cam shaft |22 and the cam plate |06. The main shaft 46 is drivenfrom any suitable power source such as motor drive |24 and belt 26. `Ahand wheel |28 is connected to main drive shaft46 to manually drivemachine Iii. It -will be'` understood that the bars 52, the needles IE,the pressure plate I8 and the carriage I 4 are all driven from motordrive |25 with a constant speedintermittent motion and are allsequentially timed to properly coordi-` nate their relative movements.

In Fig. 7 there is shown the method of lockstitching the superposedthreads 4t to the traveling fabric II. The superposed threads 38' reston the surface of the traveling fabric I and the needle I6 bearing thefront thread I 3d of the lockstitch penetrates the fabric II. This formsa loop from the thread I3@ at which time the shuttle I 32' bearing therear thread |34 of the lock-stitch stitch` sewing machine principlewhich is used inl 75 a connected generally arcuate portion Ide, forminga generally obtuse angle with the shank |38, and a generally straightportion I 42 extending from the portion |60 inwardly toward the shank|38, the straight portion |42 forming an obtuse 52 and protuberances 'I2comprises the steps of mounting the hooked threading needle M3 into acut-out portion and through the transverse apertures 'I4 from theopposite side of said. apertures to the direction of thread travel fromthe feed source 42, hooking the thread itt, andv retracting or backingthe threading needle Ili out of the transverse apertures le and thecomplementary cut-out portion 5t. It will be understood that the abovethreading method provides for the thread t8 being hooked at tilt ofneedle Idil in a doubled condition and being pulled through theapertures It to thread the bars 52. with the superposed thread 4B.

The above described apparatus also provides a method of shirring fabricby securing a superposed elastic thread to the surface of the travel*ing fabric II in any pre-selected decorative pattern. The method iscarried out by supplying elastic threads 4a to the superposed threadfeed source 42 and feeding said elastic' threads to the fabric I I undertension in any conventional manner. In other words, elastic threads aresubstituted for inesaltic threads at the thread supply source 42 andsaid elastic threads are under tension. In Fig. 12 there is shown asegment of shirred fabric IEc which is formed in accordance with theabove method by superposing on the fabric an elastic thread #le andsecuring said thread to the surface of the fabric II under tension sothat the thread is secured to the fabric in a pre-selected position, andon the tension release of the elastic thread 43, a shirred decorativesurface pattern is formed in the fabric.

The above described method may also be used for shirring and quiltingfabric by securing superposed elastic threads to the surface oftraveling fabric II to form a quilted pattern in any preselected designby the use of superposed elastic threads G3. With reference to Fig. 11there is shown a segment of shirred and quilted fabric |52 havingsuperposed thereon a plurality of elastic threads 4.8 in a pre-selecteddecorative pattern with the elastic threads de being secured to thesurface of the fabric under tension by lock It will be apparent that theloch-- stitching as previously described embraces and frictionallyengages the threads 48 in a staggered path whereby said threads aresecured to thel fabric in a pre-selected quilted pattern so that on thetension release of the elastic threads 4,23, a shirred and quilteddecorative surface pattern is formed in the fabric. It will be readilyunder stood that the fabric segments |5t and E52 are formed by the useof the apparatus of the present invention with the superposed threadsupply source 42 supplying elastic threads 48. `In Fig. 10'

a fabric segment 94 in which the superposed thread 48 is inelastic andis formed in a quilted pattern, Whereas in Fig. 11 there is shown afabric segment |52 bearing the same superposed thread surface design inwhich the superposed thread 48 is elastic. In Fig. l5 there is shown thepath of travel of the fabric I I relative to the reciprocable needles16, it being understood that the needles IG reciprocate in a fixedvertical path Whereas the fabric I| reciprocates with the carriage I4 ina fixed horizontal path.

With reference to lig. 19 there is shown a front View of the fabricguiding apron 36, which is provided with a plurality of ribs 31, forguiding the travelling fabric II from the fabric supply roll 22 to therest plate I6 and the pressure plate I8.

It will be readily understood that the traveling fabric II reciprocateswith the carriage I4 in a predetermined sequence as described above toform various patterns in the fabric such as is shown in Fig. 10. Therate of feed of the travelling fabric may be varied to get any desirednumber of. stitches per inch or running length of the fabric. As isconventional in multipleneedle automatic quilting machines, the designor pattern to be sevved on the traveling fabric I I is governed by threefactors, the cam plate |06, the gearing for the feed rollers 26 and thearrangement of the needles i6. By varying these three fact/ors in anycombination a different design or pattern may be sewn on the travelingfabric II. With reference to Fig. l0, altering the cam plate H36 altersthe Width |54 of the diamond |56 of fabric segment 9c. By changing thegears of the feed rollers 25, the length |53 of the diamond |56 isvaried, and by changing the needle spacing arrangement on the needlebracket 18 the Width |54 of the diamond |56, relative to the length |58,is varied. From the above it will be seen that the number of variationsof designs or patterns that may be formed on the surface of thetraveling fabric I is practically unlimited. Continuous straight linestitching may be accomplished by using but a single rovv of needles andlocking the carriage I4 against reciprocation.

Thus it will be seen that the above invention provides `for a novelmechanism, for securing superposed threads to the surface of travelingthere is shown fabric, which is readily attachable to a conventionalmultiple-needle automatic quilting machine. It will also be seen thatthe above invention is readily adaptable to produce an infinite numberof decorative surface patterns by a simple and relatively quick machineadjustment and by the use of a variety of threads. It will also be seenthat the above invention also may be usedto produce shirred fabric andshirred and quilted fabric by a very simple, economical, and efficientmeans and method. There is also provided a new and novel threadingneedle for utilization in threading a multiple-needle automatic quiltingmachine embodying the mechanisrn of the present invention.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structureembodying the invention it will be manifest to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be madeWithout departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventiveconcept and that the same is not limited to the particular form hereinshown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

l. In a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism forsecuring a superposed thread to the surface of traveling fabric in adecorative pattern, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally slottedplate vertically reciprocable relative to said machine and a bar adaptedto mate with said slot in said plate, said bar being axiallyreciprocable relative to said plate, said bar having a plurality ofspaced transverse apertures adapted for the reception of said superposedthread and said bar having a plurality of apertured protuberances inalignment With said transverse apertures and adapted to receive saidthread from said transverse apertures and guide said thread relative tothe surface of said traveling fabric for securement to the surface ofsaid fabric, said plate having a plurality of spaced cutout portionscomplementary to said protuberances and the area adjacent to saidtransverse apertures of said bar to provide clearance for saidprotuberances and the area adjacent to said transverse apertures onreciprocation of said bar and to provide clearance for threading saidprotuberances and said transverse apertures, and means associated withsaid bar for the axial intermittent reciprocation thereof.

2. In a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism forsecuring a superposed thread to the surface of traveling fabric in adecorative pattern, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally slottedplate vertically reciprocable relative to said machine and a bar adaptedvto mate with said slot in said plate, said bar being axiallyreciprocable relative to said plate, a vertically reciprocable needleoperable in a fixed path and adapted to lock stitch said superposedthread to the surface of said fabric, said bar having a plurality ofspaced protuberances with aligned transverse apertures passing throughsaid bar and protuberances and adapted for the reception of saidsuperposed thread, said protuberances of said bar being adapted toreciprocate across the needle path sequentially whereby on onedownstroke of said needle, the latter enters said fabric to stitch saidthread with said protuberances positioned adjacent to and at one side ofsaid needle and on the next downstroke of said needle, the latter enterssaid fabric to stitch said thread with said protuberances positionedadjacent to and at the other side of said needle to complete a cycle,said protuberances thereby guiding said superposed thread relative tothe surface of said traveling fabric and said needle path for securementto the surface of said fabric by said stitch.

3. in a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism foi1securing a superposed thread to the surface of traveling fabric in adecorative pattern, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally slottedplate vertically reciprocable relative to said machine and a bar adaptedto mate with said slot in said plate, said bar being axiallyreciprocable relative to said plate, a vertically reciprocable needleoperable in a fixed path and adapted to lock stitch said superposedthread to the surface of said fabric, said bar having a plurality ofspaced protuberances with aligned transverse apertures passing throughsaid bar and protuberances and adapted for the reception of saidsuperposed thread, said protuberances of said bar being adapted toreciprocate across the needle path sequentially whereby on onedownstroke of said needle, the latter enters said fabric to stitch saidthread with said protuberances positioned adjacent to and at one side ofsaid needle and on the next downstroke of said needle, the latter enterssaid fabric to stitch said thread with said protuberances positionedadjacent to and at the other side of said needle fabric by said stitch.and means associated with said bar for the intermittent axialreciprocation thereof in sequentially timed relation with saidreciprocable needle.

4. In a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism forsecuring superposed threads to the surface of traveling fabric in adecorative pattern, said mechanismcomprising a longitudinally slottedpressure plate intermittently reciprocable relative to said machine in avertical path to allow said fabric to travel thereunder, a plurality ofbars adapted to mate with said slots in said plate, said bars beingaxially reciprocable relative to said plate, a feed source for saidsuperposed threads, and a plurality of vertically reciprocable spacedneedles operable in a fixed path and adapted to stitch said superposedthreads to said fabric in a preselected decorative pattern, said barshaving a plurality of spaced integral protuberances with alignedtransverse apertures passing through said bars and protuberances, saidthreads from said feed source adapted to be received in said apertures,said protuberances of said bars being adapted to reciprocate across saidneedle path in timed sequential relationship with said reciprocableneedles whereby on the down-stroke of said needles, the latterpenetrates said fabric to stitch said superposed threads to said fabricwith said thread bearing protuberances positioned adjacent to and onalternate sides of said needles, said protuberances thereby guiding saidsuperposed threads relative to the surface of said traveling fabric andsaid path of said needles whereby said superposed threads are stitchedto said fabric by said needles with each stitch being in substantialalignment and on alternate sides of said threads. A

5. In a multiple-needle automatic quilting machine, mechanism forsecuring superposed threads to the surface of traveling fabric in adecorative pattern, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally slottedpressure plate intermittently reciprocable relative to said machine in avertical path to allow said fabric to travel thereunder, a plurality ofbars adapted to mate 10 with said slots in said plate, said bars beingaxially reciprocable relative to said plate, a feed source for saidsuperposed threads, and a plurality of vertically reciprocable spacedneedles operable in needles whereby on the down-stroke of said needles,the latter penetrates said fabric to stitch said superposed threads tosaid fabric with said thread bearing protuberances positioned adjacentto and on alternate sides of said needles, said protuberancesthereby'guiding said superposed threads relative to the surface of saidtraveling fabric and said path of said needles whereby said superposedthreads are stitched to said fabric by said needles with each stitchbeing in substantial alignment and on alternate sides of said threads,said plate having a plurality of spaced cutout portions complementary tosaid protuberances and the area adjacent to said transverse apertures ofsaid bars to provide clearance for said protuberances and the areaadjacent to said transverse apertures on reciprocation of said bars andto provide clearance for threading said protuberances and saidtransverse apertures, means associated with said bars for `the axialintermittent reciprocation thereof, and

means connected to said needles for the intermittent reciprocationthereof in sequential relationship with the reciprocation of said! bars.

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